The military may be closing in on militants in the Niger Delta particularly warlords fleeing River State for Bayelsa in what seems a quiet onslaught against the militants.
THISDAY learnt last night that the stage is set for an all-out battle along the creeks of Bayelsa State between men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta and militants of the Niger Delta Vigilante Group (NDVG) led by Ijaw warlord, Ateke Tom.
Military sources said the warlord had been traced to the state after escaping from neighbouring Rivers after the heat was turned on him and his men.
The JTF, it was gathered, has started mobilising for a full scale, decisive and final battle with the warlords whose territory has begun to shrink since being dislodged from Rivers.
Following the arrival of Ateke Tom to the area, residents along the creeks and riverine communities in Delta and Bayelsa States have been gripped by panic.
But allaying the fears of the people, the Commander of JTF, Brig. General Wuyep Rimtip, said there was no cause for alarm.
Rimtip insisted JTF was on top of security situation in its AoR (Area of Responsibility), which covered the two states.
While he would not disclose that the outfit was preparing for a full-scale battle with the fleeing warlord, Rimtip disclosed that all the troops in the region had been asked to watch out for the fleeing militants.
He made it clear that there would be no safe havens for Tom and his warriors in his area of operation.
Rimtip said: “We have placed our troops on alert and they are looking out for these militants that are fleeing Rivers State. My advice to them is that they should change their ways immediately because they cannot have peace in these two states. They should renounce violence and join in efforts to move the area and the nation forward.
“Our troops are watching out for these militants and we are prepared to spring whenever we hear that any one of them has surfaced in Delta or Bayelsa states.”
He said security had been tightened along the waterways, but promised that law abiding people would not be molested in anyway by soldiers.
“There will be stringent security arrangements for travelers in the waterways and all suspicious cargoes would be stopped and checked for arms and ammunition because we do not want another arms build-up in this area.” he said.
A similar visit by Ateke to Bayelsa State a few months ago had led to a bloody clash between him and his host, Ukodo, whose death was blamed on Ateke.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters and the Commander of the JTF in Rivers State, Brigadier-General Sarkin Yarkin-Bello has denied there was a directive from Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshall Paul Dike, to carry out a new onslaught against militants in the Niger Delta, pointing out that their “Rules of engagement” has not changed.
Defence Headquarters said in a statement last night that the CDS had not granted any interview since he came on board and that any report claiming that Dike ordered a new rule of engagement in the Niger Delta was a fabrication.
The clarification is coming on the heels of the arrest of 122 suspected militants in a cordon and search operations in some areas of Port Harcourt just as six suspects who allegedly threatened the state Commissioner for Urban Development, Mr. Gina Osimah, were also arrested.
The weekend, which saw a lot of activities, also witnessed the killing by men of the JTF of two lieutenants of the leader of the outlawed cult group, Soboma George, who at a time was even rumoured to have been killed.
Bello’s clarification followed the allegation by a national daily that the new CDS had issued new ‘rules of engagement’ to the task force, asking the force to fish or smoke out the militants.
He said: “Since I took over as the Commander of the JTF Operation Flush III, there has only been one rule of engagement, which came into effect on September 4, 2004 and it has not changed. Three CDS have come and gone without changing the rule. For anybody to say the rule has changed is not true.
“I have no fresh directive form the CDS to carry out any operation. I have been planning and executing operations based on the rules and there is no issue of being directed by anybody. I have moved against militant camps in Ogbogoro, Rumuekpe, Okrika and some other places without the prompting of anyone.”
Giving further clarifications on the operations of the JTF in Rivers State, Spokesman of the Force, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, said no issue like that was discussed when the CDS visited their formations as what he did was to evaluate their operations which, according to him, the CDS was satisfied with.
“No where has the CDS directed JTF Commanders to aggressively dislodge militants or accused anybody. The JTF has a mandate, Rules of Engagement and Standing laws and principles guiding its operation in the Niger Delta which has not been changed”, Sagir said.
He said they raided Ibeto Cement, Dock yard, Abuja and Bundu water fronts where the 122 people were arrested and have sine been handed over to the police who will investigate and prosecute those found culpable of criminal activities while others cleared will be released.
According to Musa, “No single shot was fired during the operation and that nobody was killed or wounded”.
Sep292008